Why are the tribals in India referred to as ‘the Scheduled Tribes’? Indicate the major provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment.

Scheduled Tribes in India have officially designated groups of people. According to census 2011,  they constitute 8.6% of the population of India. Since the time of India’s independence, they were granted the reservation status ensuring political representation.

Origin of the term Schedule: The fifth and sixth schedule of the constitution of India contains the provision related to the administration and control of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes and certain tribal areas respectively.

On the basis of the discrimination faced by the communities, the makers of the constitution provided them some special consideration by classifying them as Schedule tribes.

Major provisions:

Educational, economical, and professional:

• Article 15 of the Indian constitution prohibits any discrimination on the ground of race, religion, sex, caste or place of birth.
• Article 46 ensures the promotion of educational and economic interests.
• Article 335 claims of Schedule tribes to services and post.

Political:

• Article 330 provides them reservation in the House of People (Lok Sabha).
• Article 332 provides them reservation in the state legislative assembly.
• Article 243D provides reservation to them in Panchayat.
• Article 243T provides not less than 1/3rd of the total seat reserved for women belongs to Schedule tribes.

National commission for scheduled tribes has been established under Article 338A. It is a constitutional body which participates in the socio-economic development planning process of scheduled tribes

Topics: GS-IV: Ethics and Human Interface